Welcome to the Kansas Arts Network’s Advocacy Center. On this page we’ll share current information about arts legislation and issues, as well as calls for action. Arts supporters can make an impact by speaking up for the issues they care about. We encourage all Kansans to be informed and communicate with their elected officials in support of the arts.

Kansas Department of Commerce Creative Arts Industries Commission logo with "Ad Astra Per Aspera" banner and stars.

Support Funding for the Kansas Arts Commission

The Kansas Arts Commission is the State’s Arts Agency which currently functions under the Department of Commerce. The agency has seen a fluctuation in budgeting over the years but has been operating with approximately a $1.5M budget — of which the majority goes towards granting programs across the state.

Advocacy update: 4/1/25: Thank you for all of your amazing advocacy efforts over these last few weeks! Grassroots advocacy is an impactful tool, and we couldn't have accomplished this without you and the arts supporters in the legislature.

We're pleased to share a final update on funding for the Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) this budget season. The Senate accepted the House's position of $1 million for the KAC (EDIF) with a 60/40 split. Meaning 60% of funds to go to counties with populations of 85,000 or less and 40% to go to counties with populations of 85,000 or more.

Thank you to everyone who shared our social media posts and reached out to their representatives, and a big thank you to the legislators who ensured the Kansas Arts Commission was funded amidst difficult budget decisions.

Advocacy Ask: Kansans are encouraged to communicate with their state representatives and thank the legislature for approving funding for the Kansas Arts Commission. Arts organizations are encouraged to invite their state representatives to arts events in their districts and to ensure that state representatives know about how the arts benefit their district.

We’re following the narrative of Americans for the Arts for all things related to the National Endowment for the Arts.

The cancellation of National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants, while not unexpected, marks the next step in a deeply troubling pattern of government disinvestment in the arts. This ongoing pattern of disregard not only threatens vital funding for organizations and communities nationwide—it challenges the very infrastructure that supports cultural expression, economic opportunity, and community well-being. We must respond strategically and in solidarity to protect what we’ve built and ensure the arts remain a national priority.

The NEA is essential. The NEA reaches every Congressional district, supporting programs that reflect the full spectrum of American communities—from rural arts initiatives and veterans’ healing programs to youth education, local festivals, and the preservation of our cultural heritage. These cancellations take away what brings people together, weaken the local programs that help communities thrive, and go against the values that hold us together as a country.

Advocacy Ask 1: Kansans are encouraged to communicate with their federal representatives regarding general funding and agency support for the National Endowment for the Arts. The ask is for a $209 million dollar allocation for the National Endowment for the Arts before Jun 23, 2025

Advocacy Ask 2: Kansans are encouraged to communicate with their federal representatives regarding the termination of NEA grants. The grants terminated were Congressionally approved in previous fiscal years and the funding goes directly to benefit Kansas communities.

Advocacy Ask 3: In addition to the NEA, we also are requesting advocacy for several other important agencies that serve the arts and humanities sector. The President’s budget put forth no funding for the NEA, NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities), IMLS (Institute for Museums and Library Sciences) and IAIA (Institute of American Indian Arts). We really need to talk with all Kansas congressional offices to ask for $209 million for the NEH and NEA, $13.482 million for IAIA and robust funding for IMLS and in FY2026.

Why it matters: Your voice as a local arts leader carries significant weight with Congress. When legislators hear directly from constituents about the impact of arts funding in their districts, it makes a real difference in their decision-making. While current staffing and funding levels are in jeopardy, it is important that we ask for budget appropriations to ensure the agencies exist in the future.  For your convenience, I've attached a script that you can use and make your own when contacting their offices by phone or email. This link will also take you to a one-page sheet overviewing the return on investment for the NEA. 

Kansas Congressional Contacts:

July 16, 2025 Update:

The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee - in charge of setting next year’s FY’26 funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities - conducted an official markup hearing. As in previous years, this House subcommittee recommended cuts to important agencies such as the National Park Service, Environmental Protection Agency, NEA, and NEH. Specifically, the subcommittee voted on a 35% cut to the federal cultural agencies, which would mean $135 million each (down from $207 million) for the NEA and NEH. This is just the beginning of the appropriations process, as you will recall President Trump began by recommending zeroing out these cultural agencies for FY'26. Additionally, there is room for increases in federal funding to take place in the Senate.

 HOW CUTS IMPACT KANSAS

In addition to individual grants to arts organizations, the NEA supports state arts agencies. Through the federal-state partnership, 40% of NEA grant funding flows directly to state arts agencies, including the Kansas Arts Commission which supports local arts across Kansas, so the consequences of this cut will be significant and deeply felt.

HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION NOW
Please continue standing up for the arts with us by:

· Taking two minutes to send an email to Congress to protect NEA and NEH funding

· Calling your members of Congress and telling them that as a constituent you would like to register your support for funding for the National Endowment for the Arts
Posting your story of how NEA funding has made an impact on your community and life on social media and tagging your Members of Congress with the hashtag #ProtectTheNEA